"The Knight's Tale"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how, even though "The Knight's Tale" is often regarded as addressing the chivalric code, the Christian undertones are, in fact, undeniable. To illustrate this point, the paper looks at how Chaucer, who was himself a Christian, establishes the Knight as one who has consistently been willing to sacrifice his life in the name of Christianity. The paper maintains that Chaucer's background, combined with the Knight's heroism leaves no doubt that "The Knight's Tale" is told from a Christian perspective. The paper then goes on to examine the attributes of Venus, Mars, and the Prime Mover in order to demonstrate that 'The Knight's Tale' is actually a Christian commentary against polytheism.

From the Paper:

"In addition to Venus, Mars is also subjected to Christian ridicule. First, the storyteller describes the attributes of Mars. "There stood the temple of Mars, of warlike will" (100). Also, "There on the wall were painted the dark tasks / That Felony images; Anger, red ... the treachery that murders men in bed / The killer of himself was also there;/his own hearts what and splattered on his hair...(101). Mars, the supreme ruler of war, is described in extremely violent terms which stand in opposition to the Christian value of love. Next, the reader learns what type of guiding force Mars is. "A thousand slain, and not by pestilence; /and destroyed, were not a thing remained;" (101). Total destruction and genocide is the will of Mars. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Morrison, Thomas. ed. The Portable Chaucer. New York : Penguin Books. 1977.

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• Analytical Essay # 7609 : "Chaucer's "The Knight's Tale"

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